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5.02.2011

Preview: Barcelona vs Real Madrid (UCL Semifinal)

Real Madrid needs to win to be on next May 28 in the Champions League final (Wembley) and needs to overcome the 0-2 that Barcelona inflicted on white team at the Bernabeu Stadium. Hence, Mourinho will align an offensive starting lineup with Özil, Di Maria, Cristiano and Benzema. The coach will remove the punishment to Portuguese striker and Cristiano will be joined on top by Karim Benzema, the other new. The Portuguese coach will not resort to the three defense midfielders led by Pepe, who is suspended, the system that he has been used in the last three Classics. Lass, who takes the place of injured Khedira, and Xabi Alonso, will handle the game.

Mourinho will change the starting lineup against Barcelona

Paradoxically, Real Madrid lost 5-0 at Camp Nou on November 29 with the same attack formed ​​by Özil, Di Maria, Cristiano and Benzema. But on the positive side is another fact: The team has achieved the two biggest wins in this season: 7-0, against Malaga in the League, and 8-0 against Levante in the last-16 first leg of the Spanish Cup. Both matches were played at the Bernabeu. In total, Mourinho has lined up this attack line in 11 games. The balance is 9 wins and two defeats (Barcelona and Osasuna), 34 goals for and 12 against.

Another aspect of Mourinho's tactical approach is that tomorrow will play an unheard starting lineup in this season. The absences of two indisputable starters as Ramos and Pepe (both by suspension) are the main reason and cause that the defense consists of Arbeloa, Albiol, Carvalho (who returns after suspension) and Marcelo. These four players have played together only in the sixth match of the group stage of the Champions League, against Auxerre. That game was won by Madrid 4-0 with three goals of Benzema, who was the star of the match. Cristiano Ronaldo scored the other.

Mourinho did not hesitate in ensuring after the Wednesday defeat that Real Madrid was eliminated. However, yesterday he harangued his players before training with a different speech. Mourinho wanted to raise the spirits of the troops by pointing out that the comeback is not an utopia. The pass to the Wembley final is difficult but not impossible.

Moreover, Cristiano returns to the starting lineup after his punishment, after seeing from a VIP box as Real Madrid lost on Saturday against Zaragoza. An unprecedented decision by José Mourinho, because he only missed out the second leg of the last-16 round of the Spanish Cup (Levante vs Real Madrid) due to a little cold. But after his remarks criticizing the tactical planning on Wednesday's Classic, Mourinho decided to punish him. Tomorrow will be starter.

In addition, and recalling the arbitration aspect of the game, the players of Real Madrid Cristiano Ronaldo, Raul Albiol, Angel Di Maria and Emmanuel Adebayor, are close to suspension and if they were booked on Tuesday, they would not play the final of the Champions League. Interestingly, the Barcelona does not have any player in this situation.

In Barcelona is not expected any tactical revolution. The team will be the same that played in the first leg, with the inclusion of Iniesta, recovered from his injury. So the center of the field will consist of Busquets, Xavi and Iniesta. A team with two-goal lead, at home and playing from memory. Difficult mission for Real Madrid, which will have to fight that ... and maybe against the referee.